Detectives from the Criminal Proceeds Squad charged two people last week following an investigation into significant money laundering by an offshore organised crime syndicate.
Two warrants were executed at addresses in Port Melbourne and Melbourne on Tuesday, 24 January, with further searches at residential properties in Melbourne and Box Hill on Wednesday (25 January).
A 39-year-old Port Melbourne man was charged with the Commonwealth offences of directing activities of a criminal organisation, dealing with proceeds of crime ($10,000,000+), dealing with proceeds of crime ($1,000,000+), dealing with property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime, offence committed for the benefit of an organisation and offence committed at the direction of an organisation.
A 31-year-old Melbourne woman was charged with the Commonwealth offences of dealing with proceeds of crime ($1,000,000+), dealing with property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime, offence committed for the benefit of an organisation and offence committed at the direction of an organisation
The duo was remanded to face Melbourne Magistrate's Court on 31 May.
Police subsequently seized an Audi Q5 and a number of bank accounts and bank cards in various names.
The investigation commenced in 2021 when detectives from the Major Drug Squad uncovered an alleged Malaysian money laundering syndicate as part of a separate investigation.
Investigators worked with AUSTRAC to identify offenders, trends and methods used by the syndicate.
Police will allege at least $25M over a three-month period was collected, deposited or channelled in cryptocurrency by the syndicate.
The 39-year-old Port Melbourne man is believed to have been acting as a mule for the offshore syndicate, collecting money and depositing it into various bank accounts.
Police have identified over 80 bank accounts belonging to Malaysian nationals which were allegedly bought by the syndicate to use for transferring funds into trading platforms and cryptocurrency.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information on organised crime activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppers.vic.com.auExternal Link
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Jennifer Locke, Criminal Proceeds Squad:
"This is a significant result and one that highlights the contemporary nature of serious and organised crime.
"Money laundering is not a victimless crime - these funds are used to operate criminal networks involved in a variety of crime types including the trafficking of drugs and illicit firearms.
"These results demonstrate how criminal behaviour continues to evolve, while law enforcement and investigation methodology adapts accordingly.
"Victoria Police and its partners will do everything they can to hold offenders to account while ensuring those involved in serious and organised crime do not retain any advantage, financial or otherwise, from their nefarious criminal ways."
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